Evacuation slide with a lighting system for illuminating an escape route

Abstract

An evacuation slide comprises a sliding face having a top end portion adapted to be positioned adjacent to an exit of a region to be evacuated, and a bottom end portion adapted to be positioned adjacent to an escape route leading away from the region to be evacuated and being arranged at a lower height than the region to be evacuated. A light signal generating device is adapted to irradiate at least one light beam onto the escape route which extends further in a direction parallel to a center line of the escape route than in a direction perpendicular to the center line of the escape route so as to indicate a predefined evacuation direction along the escape route.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to an evacuation slide provided with a lighting system for illuminating an escape route. Further, the invention relates to a vehicle, in particular an aircraft equipped with an evacuation slide of this kind.[0002]Current passenger aircraft are equipped with inflatable evacuation slides which allow evacuating passengers and crew members from an aircraft cabin after an emergency or crash landing of the aircraft. Typically, an inflatable evacuation slide is associated with a door or an emergency exit of the aircraft cabin such that persons leaving the aircraft cabin through the door or emergency exit can step on or jump on the evacuation slide and slide down the evacuation slide to the ground. Hence, the evacuation slides ensure that passengers and crew members can leave the aircraft cabin even in case the aircraft is of a size which does not allow a direct escape from the cabin to the ground.[0003]Typically, an evacuation ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is about an evacuation slide with lights that helps people know where they are going when they leave the slide. The text also describes using this slide on vehicles like aircrafts. The technical effects are improved guidance and orientation for people and vehicles using the evacuation slide.

Problems solved by technology

An increase of the passenger number thus requires equipping the aircraft cabin with an additional door or door pair which, however, might be undesirable because of the technical outlay, the costs and the weight.

However, experience from tests indicates that many evacuees are reluctant to move as quickly as they could due to missing guidance and features providing clear view about the descent, in particular in dark-of-night conditions.

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